SARGSYAN HOPEFUL TURKEY BORDER WILL REOPEN
United Press International
April 10 2009
ISTANBUL, Turkey, April 10 (UPI) — Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
says he is hopeful his country’s border with Turkey will reopen by
Oct. 7, in time for a World Cup soccer qualifying match.
The border has been closed since 1993. Sargsyan would like it to
officially reopen in time for a match between the countries’ national
soccer teams, the Hurriyet Daily News reported.
The match is scheduled Oct. 7.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul was allowed to visit Armenia last
year to watch the two teams play in a World Cup qualifying match,
a move Sargsyan labeled part of his country’s "good intensions."
"We showed goodwill and I hope the Turkish side will also appreciate
our good intensions," the Armenian official said.
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said the border should remain
closed until the two sides resolve their Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a
dispute over Armenia assuming control of Azerbaijani territory in 1993.